"Big sister, Yaoguang..." Zhang Yingdi ran in from outside. "Father and mother, along with Zhang Jizong, have arrived."
Zhang Jizong, just hearing the name, you know he’s the only boy among the Zhang Family Sisters. The Zhang Family parents had three daughters and finally welcomed this sole son, you can imagine his high status at home.
The Zhang Family married off Zhang Zhaodi, receiving a bridal gift of five taels of silver. This bridal gift was used for Zhang Jizong’s tuition, a new outfit, and the Four Treasures of the Study. However, within two years, he was caught skipping class and fighting, and the teacher advised him to withdraw. The Zhang Family married off the second daughter, Zhang Pandi, because her worthless husband was a tiler who promised to build them a new house in lieu of a bridal gift, effectively selling Zhang Pandi. As for marrying off the third daughter, it was because Wang Huanzhi was severely ill, and the Wang Family provided a bridal gift of twenty taels of silver to lift their spirits. That silver was used for Zhang Jizong’s marriage and to acquire three acres of good land.
The villagers all say the Zhang Family profited from selling their daughters, turning a rundown thatched hut into several large tile-roofed houses due to the daughters’ contributions. Upon hearing such talk, Zhang Family parents, Wei Family and Zhang Laosan, vent their anger on the three daughters, saying they were going to be married off eventually, so it didn’t matter to whom, while purposely spreading nasty rumors that tarnished the family reputation.
For years, the Zhang Family Sisters seldom returned home, only visiting when sent word by Wei Family or Zhang Laosan that someone was unwell. Naturally, since Zhang Zhaodi became a widow and took care of her daughter, and every time she brought her daughter back wasn’t even allowed at the table, she barely returned. Zhang Pandi hardly needs mentioning; she lived worse than pigs or dogs for years, unable to count on her family, and couldn’t leave. Then there’s Zhang Yingdi, who’s tied down with caring for her ill husband, unable to leave.
The last time Zhang Zhaodi returned home, instead of receiving any care, she left with a belly full of anger, and it has been nearly a year since they’ve seen them. Typically, they wouldn’t even think of the three daughters, but today they unexpectedly came to the city, accurately finding Taoyao Square, proving they’ve heard things from somewhere.
Several people went out from the backyard, seeing four adults with faces full of resentment sitting in the nearby tea area, appearing like debt collectors, and a child who wouldn’t stop crying.
"Dad, mom, Jizong, sister-in-law, why did you come?" Zhang Zhaodi asked worriedly, her face full of concern.
"How come, you live the good life in the city while your father, mother, and brother are starving in the countryside, now we come seeking a bit of help, and you put on such a face?" Wei Family scolded sharply.
"Shh..." Zhang Zhaodi hurriedly gestured for silence. "The place is filled with lords nearby, don’t make noise, or if the government officials are drawn here, it won’t be good."
Wei Family’s face froze, she looked around, and indeed saw the government officer peering at the entrance.
"Lady Zhang, is there trouble?"
"No, no trouble," Zhang Zhaodi said, "My mother was just speaking loudly. Please forgive us, Lord."
The officer retreated back.
Zhang Laosan concealed his fierce expression and sneakily peeked outside, lowering his voice, "What trouble did you get into? Why is the government officer guarding you outside?"
"The city’s been chaotic recently, there are sick people everywhere, and the lords want our shop to care for these patients. Look, there’s a long line of people infected over there. Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle, you’d better keep your distance," Su Yaoguang said in a lowered voice.
"Oh my heavens, why have they got you taking care of those patients? Those infected are terrifying. In our village, there’s a sick person, spreading from one to another, coughing blood daily, very frightening!" Wei Family fearfully looked at the ill.
The noise here drew the attention of those in line, turning their heads to look over. At this moment, they weren’t the elegantly dressed ladies and mistresses but a group tormented by the epidemic, revealing just how frightening their faces appeared. They looked at Wei Family and Zhang Laosan without saying anything, terrifying those who had been so arrogant earlier.
"Dad, mom, we can’t stay here. Those people are infected, and they interact with the sick daily; who knows if they’re infected too. Our little Darling mustn’t take this risk."
"Big daughter, we’re not bothering you to take us in, how about you give us one thousand taels of silver instead and we’ll go back to the countryside," Zhang Laosan shifted from his original plan of staying here to live in luxury.
"One thousand taels?" Su Yaoguang was astonished, "Grandfather, we don’t even have ten taels of silver; how can we find one thousand taels?"
"With such a big shop, you’re telling us there’s no silver?" Wei Family sharply questioned, "Across the street that Zhong Lanhua has mentioned, your business is doing great, making hundreds of taels daily."
"Not now, and even before, we’ve never had such good business. Honestly, this period we’ve spent all our money on rice alone. Our shop’s business is already bad, and that Zhong Lanhua across the street competes fiercely with us, stealing all our business. She deliberately tricked you into watching as a joke against us. Zhong Lanhua has harmed mother, are you still going to believe her words?"
Zhang Jizong’s wife, Mrs. Hua, scrutinized the shop’s furnishings.
"I think so too. If their business were good, how could it be so empty? Look, there’s dust on the tables, everything’s messy."
Mrs. Hua can’t stand the three sisters living well; the worse Zhang Zhaodi’s life is, the happier she is. After all, the Zhang Family Sisters were the lowest of the low, while she was the great contributor to passing on the Zhang Family lineage.
"Since Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle, and Aunt have arrived, as a junior, I boldly want to borrow one hundred taels from you," Su Yaoguang nervously twisted her fingers, "The rent is due soon, can’t afford it. I’ve heard Uncle and Aunt have earned a lot over the years. Could you lend it to us temporarily, and we’ll repay when we earn money?"
Wei Family, Zhang Laosan, Zhang Jizong, Mrs. Hua: "..."
They came to ask for money, not to scatter wealth; is this girl out of her mind, foolish?
Zhang Zhaodi and the sisters restrained their laughter nearby.
"We don’t have money, if we did, would we be looking for you?" Mrs. Hua said, "You mentioned spending all the money on rice; does it mean you have rice now?"
"Now, rice sells for one hundred cents a pound. Who knows how long this rain will last, we’ve stocked some at home just in case. But we don’t have much left."
"Then give us some rice and flour," Zhang Laosan said, "One hundred pounds."
"We don’t even have one hundred pounds ourselves," Zhang Zhaodi frowned, "There is some cornmeal left; we can give you twenty pounds of cornmeal, and only five pounds of rice."
"Are you trying to feed beggars?" Wei Family said, "We are your parents, being filial to us is your duty. Do you want us old bones to starve in this disaster year?"
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